Looked at from another angle, however, it is hardly surprising that loneliness at University is common, especially amongst first years. Coming to University is a major life change – it’s leaving home. It may be the first time you have lived away from home as well as leaving behind friends that you have known for years.
Leaving home and coming to University means a lot of changes: in lifestyle, work patterns and degree of independence. These can all take a toll and leave you feeling uncertain about what to do or even how to be. Social insecurities can then creep in, even to people who normally feel quite socially adept. So, for some (maybe you), loneliness is a new and unsettling experience, while for others loneliness is more familiar but may now be accompanied by disappointment that coming to University hasn’t brought about any changes to the feelings of loneliness.